
"MY JIM" 

AND OTHER 

WAR POEMS 



DAISIE L. SMITH 



Copyright, 1917 

DAISIE L. SMITH 

Tacoma, Wash. 



JUL 30 1317 
©C1.A470469 



"MY JIM" 

AND OTHER 

WAR POEMS 



DAISIE L. SMITH 



MY JIM. 

Did you see that handsome soldier, in his uniform 

so neat, 
With a flag upon his shoulder, come marching 

down the street? 
The one so tall and manly, with such a good, 

kind face — 
I'm sure it would be hard to find a man to take 
his place. 

That's My Jim! 

The one so proud and happy, with such a princely 

air — 
He said: "If men are needed, I surely will be 

there." 
He didn't wait a moment, when they asked for 

men to fight, 
But said: "I'll serve my country; the cause is just 

and right." 

That's My Jim! 

He has a loving sweetheart — a girl so pure and 

true — 
And when he said "Goodbye" to her she said: 

"I'd die for you; 
But we must serve our country, our flag we must 

defend, 
Tho in saving it from danger, we lose our dearest 

friend." 

That's My Jim! 

I know she will be faithful — no girl could help 

but be, 
Who had the love and honor of such a man as he. 
'Twas hard to see him going, I thought my heart 

would break; 
We can even give our loved ones for our dear 

country's sake. 

Even My Jim! 



It may be you were looking at the officers so grand, 
Or maybe you were list'ning to the music of the 

band — 
You say you didn't see him? That's very strange 

to me, 
For in that line of soldiers there's only one I see. 
That's My Jim! 

My boy is not a colonel, nor a captain, nor a guard ; 

He's just a common soldier, but I know he's work- 
ing hard 

For the cause of right and justice, and to make the 
whole world free, 

And I pray that God will bless him and bring him 
back to me. 



My Jim 



• * * 



LINES TO THE RED CROSS 

What nobler art than healing human woes, 
Binding up the wounds of those 

Who would our precious flag defend — 
Aiding humanity in dire distress, 
Seeking by their watchful care to bless 

And e'er a helping hand to lend? 
Unselfish in its purpose and its aim, 

Prepared to offer aid alike to friend and foe, 
In the spirit of the loving Christ, who came 
And ministered alike to high and low. 
The Red Cross o'er the world it's standard high, 
Ranks next the cross of Christ, who came to die 
For those who, for His matchless love but hate 

returned ; 
Whose life and noble service fiercely spurned. 
O, let us lift the hands of those who would this 

noble service give — 
A service for the world — that all mankind may 

better live. 



GOODBYE, MOTHER. 
"Goodbye, dearest mother," he said as he kissed 
The face so patient and sweet. 
"Goodbye; I must go to my country's call, 
A brave man will never retreat. 

Goodbye, and may the kind Father Above 

"Watch over you 'till I return. 
I must serve my country and follow my flag, 

Tho the duty be grave and stern." 

"Goodbye," he said, tho the brave man quailed, 
As he pressed her once more to his heart, 

And he saw that mother bowed low with grief 
At the thought that they must part. 

"Goodbye, my son," came soft and low 
From the lips that quivered with pain — 

"Goodbye, and God bless you and keep you true, 
Tho we never should meet again." 

"Goodbye, dear boy. Your country's call 

Is a call for justice and right, 
And we know the Father who watches all 

Will guard you with His might." 

"Goodbye, once more, tho my sad heart break. 

To your flag you must be true. 
Stand firm for the right and bravely fight 

For our grand Red, White and Blue." 



TO OUR SOLDIERS 

Brave men are they, answering their country's call, 

Bringing in loyal surrender their service, their lives, 
their all; 

Ready to face any danger, ready to fight or fall. 

Honor our valiant soldiers, answering their coun- 
try's call. 

Many have parted with loved ones, giving their 

last "Goodbye," 
Knowing the life of a soldier, meant only to dare 

and die; 

But even with death before them, their pledges 
they would not recall. 

Honor our valiant soldiers, answering our coun- 
try's call. 

Not for glory nor fame nor conquest our soldiers 
are falling in line; 

They fight for our banner of freedom — they 
fight for our flag — yours and mine; 

They fight that freedom and justice may forever 
be given to all. 

Honor our valliant soldiers, answering our coun- 
try's call. 

To these noble, brave-hearted soldiers, a debt of 
homage we owe; 

Let us in sincere affection our token of gratitude 
show; 

Give now our praise and devotion, not wait till 
these brave brothers fall. 

Honor our valiant soldiers, answering their coun- 
try's call. 



PLEASE, PAPA, TAKE MAMMA 
AND ME 
Please, Papa, take mamma and me. 
You don't know how good I will be. 
I'll not cry nor complain 
When we ride on the train — 
I'll sit still and be good as can be. 

Mamma cried when you said you must go, 

But she smiled and tried hard not to show 

That her heart was so sad 

And she felt, O, so bad! 

For she didn't want you to see. 

Please, papa, take mamma and me. 

Papa, I could carry your pretty new flag, 
And Mamma could take that nice little bag 
The Red Cross ladies gave you, you know — 
How could you use it? I'm sure you can't sew. 
But mamma could use it, you see. 
Please, papa, take mamma and me. 

We're so lonely when you are away, 
I don't b'lieve we ever could stay — 
And how could I say my prayer 
Unless my dear papa were there. 
You'd be as homesick as ever could be, 
If you didn't have mamma and me. 

No soldier was handsome as you, 

When you marched down the street today. 
Dear papa, is tt really true 

That you must go far away? 
Don't seem it ever could be 
You could go and leave mamma and me. 



Jack said you'd prob'ly get shot. 

I told him he didn't know — 
How could he have such a thought, 

That would worry and frighten us so? 
But if anything happened, you see, 
You'd wish you had mamma and me. 

Last night I heard mamma pray 
Just after I crept in my bed. 
She prayed such a sweet, pleading way 
I know God heard what she said. 
And tonight I'll ask Him to see 
If you can't please take mamma and me. 



• • • 



HELP US TO UNDERSTAND 
This morn as I woke at break of the day, 
The robins were singing as joyous and gay; 
As tho' all the world were teeming with love — 
And a peace over all as in heaven above — 
Thy peace, loving Father, that would hover o'er all 
— Thy watchcare that mindeth the sparrow's fall — 
And yet, o'er the world Thy murderous foe 
Is casting a shadow of sorrow and woe. 
Can it be in this turmoil, is hidden Thy hand? 
Help us, O Father, to understand. 



UNFURL THE FLAG 
Unfurl the flag, 
Our beauteous flag, 

That all the world may see 
It's colors true — red, white and blue — 

Emblem of Liberty. 

Unfurl the flag, 
Our grand old flag, 

Spread wide each precious fold; 
That on the breeze, o'er many seas, 

It's history may be told. 

Unfurl the flag, 
The sacred flag 

Our fathers died to save. 
Let no disgrace mar its fair face; 

Forever let it wave. 

Unfurl the flag, 
The freeman's flag, 

Guardian of truth and right. 
'Twill not be lost, whate'er the cost; 

Tho every freeman fight. 

Unfurl the flag, 
The flag of love. 

Its mission now may be 
Where'er unfurled to free the world 

From greed and tyranny. 

Unfurl the flag, 
Our glorious flag, 

And may it be unfurled 
O'er vale and hill, o'er shop and mil 

'Till it has freed the world. 



MARCHING AWAY 
He was marching, marching away. 

She stood as one in a dream. 
His girl-wife just for a day, 

And just at the sunset's last beam. 
He was marching, marching away. 

Just before the final command, 
And the sound of the bugle's last note, 

He turned and laid in her hand 
His worn, familiar coat. 

"Here, darling, keep it for me. 
I may need it bye and bye." 

O, the last sweet memory, 
As he kissed her a fond goodbye. 

He was marching, marching away. 

She could hear the measured tread. 
It seemed, that fatal day, 

Her life and hope had fled. 
That old, familiar coat, 

Lying so limp in her hands ; 
The sound of the bugle note; 

The music of marching bands ; ' 
The sobs of weeping friends — 

Mother, sweetheart, wife — 
The tragic picture blends 

Into a part of her life. 

Marching, marching away. 

Fainter the footsteps seem, 
Till in the fading day 

'Tis but a shadowy dream. 
The coat so fervently grasped, 

Still shaped by the loved one's impress. 
Seems as a link of the past 

To tender a mute caress. 
O, those mem'ries of long ago, 

How they creep o'er the soul today, 
When hearts in sadness and woe 

Watch their loved ones marching away. 



GOD'S BATTLE 

We fight for truth with zealous fear, 
We bear it's burdens year by year; 
Yet vice and sin on every side 
Like ocean waves sweep far and wide. 
We turn aside in mute despair, 
With scarcely hope to do or dare. 
But can we score the battle lost, 
Or can we count the heavy cost? 

The battle's not ours, but God's. 

He leads the hosts for truth and right. 
He girds the soldiers for the fight; 
He guards them by His powerful might; 
He guides them by His wondrous sight. 
He knows each call and countersign; 
He views the troops from line to line. 
He fears no foe nor shameful rout ; 
He only hears the victor's shout. 

The battle's not ours, but God's. 

And with such might, such power divine, 
Dare we not brave the battle line; 
Like David with his tiny sling, 
Fear not when fighting for our King? 
And tho the foe be fierce and strong, 
And tho the battle rages long ; 
He knows His legions will defend. 
He sees the victory at the end. 

The battle's not ours, but God's. 



THE VISION OF THE END 

We must look beyond the battle, beyond the shot 

and shell; 
Beyond the bloody warfare — these hideous scenes 

of hell. 
The picture is e'er before us, more vivid and real 

each day. 
We must fix our eyes on the future and bravely 

look away. 

We must pierce the gloom and darkness for a 

"vision of the end;" 
Pray for a God-given vision where good with evil 

shall blend. 
A grand, triumphant vict'ry, if with God we do 

our part — 
From a vision of hopeless surrender we turn with 

sickening heart. 

A defeat of the cause of freedom — what would it 
mean to the world? 

A glimpse of our glorious America with the Ger- 
man flag unfurled — 

A downfall of democracy — a rule by despot and 
knave — 

O, God, in mercy deliver! O, Father rescue and 
save! 

On, bravely on, through the conflict; meet and 

conquer the foe; 
Deal to the rule of the despot its last destroying 

blow. 
We may not, must not, falter; God will His 

legions send; 
Right and truth will conquer — our "vision of the 

end." 



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